Attachable and adjustable ash tray for chairs



Feb. 5, 1935. M. J. ELIAS ATTACHABLE AND ADJUSTABLE ASH TRAY FOR CHAIRS Filed June 1, 1952 a L I I Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES ATTACHABLE AND ADJUSTABLE ASH TRAY FOR CHAIRS Maurice J. Elias, Astoria, N. Y.

Application June 1, 1932, Serial No. 614,832

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ash trays, and more particularly to such ash trays as are adapted to be mounted on an article of furniture, such as, a chair, davenport, or the like, and to be held in a osition convenient for use by a person occupying such article of furniture. Hereinafter, for

convenience, such article of furniture will be referred to simply as a chair, with the understanding, however, that the term indicates no limitation but isto be interpreted, broadly, as

implying any similar article to which the invention may be adapted.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an ash tray of the character described with a mounting which may be secured to the chair in a manner which will not injure or mar the appearance of the chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide the ash tray with such a mounting which extends from a lower portion of the chair frame or body upwardly and outwardly to a position flanking an arm of the chair, in which position it is most convenient for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide the ash tray with such a mounting which is also adjustable, longitudinally, so that it may be adapted to chairs having arms of different heights.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide readily separable connecting means between the ash tray and its mounting, so that it may be easily removed for cleaning.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the ash tray with a cover which may be positioned, when desired, to serve as a platform for supporting a glass, or other object.

With these and other objects in view, such as will hereinafter be made manifest, the invention consists, in general, of the combination of elements and arrangement of parts, as illustrated in the accompanying one sheet of drawing, de-- scribed in the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, wherein like characters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, of an ash tray and mounting constructed in accordance with this invention and shown as adapted to an overstuffed upholstered chair;

Figure 2 is an inner face view of the ash tray and the upper portion of the mounting, looking in the direction of the arrow II in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of the central portion of the mounting,

looking in the direction of the arrow III in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line IVIV in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a similar section on the line VV 5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified type of mounting as adapted to a wooden chair; and,

Figure 7 is a plan view of a certain securing yoke which forms a part of the invention.

Referring, in the first instance, to Figure 1, there is shown an ash tray comprising a casing 10 open at its upper portion and having said open upper portion adapted to be closed by means of a 15 lid 11 hinged to the casing 10. Suitably supported, within the casing, is a removable cup or receptacle 12 adapted to receive ashes, burnt matches, and similar debris. When the tray is not in use, the lid 11 is closed, as shown by full lines, and thereby serves not only to present a neat and symmetrical external appearance to the tray but hides whatever unsightly accumulation may be in the cup 12 and prevents the emanation of noxious fumes therefrom. When the tray -is in use, the lid 11 is swung open to the position shown by dotted lines and serves as a platform for the support of a glass 13, or other object. In order that the support of a glass may be made more effective, the lid is provided with a central circular ofiset portion 14 which, when the lid is open, forms a central depression which encompasses the bottom of the glass and guards it against accidental dislodgment.

Secured to the inner face of the casing 10 is a yoke 15 with tapered aperture adapted to fit over the correspondingly tapered upper end 15 of a vertically extending tray supporting bar 16, as is best shown in Figure 2. This manner of mounting provides a firm and rigid support for the casing 10, but is one which permits ready removal of the casing, when desired, and equally quick replacement.

At the point :0, in Figure 1, the bar 16 is bent inwardly from the vertical, and below this point it is provided with rolled over side wings 1'7, which are for a purpose which will be later described.

Secured to the under face of any available lower part of the frame m of the chair A, as also shown in Figure 1, is a horizontal bar 18. This bar may 50 be secured to the frame in any suitable and desired manner, such, for example, as by engaging it beneath one or' more yokes 18, such as is shown in Figure '7, which are secured to the frame by means of screws 18 through holes 18, or in any other suitable manner, and it is preferably provided with offset portions so that only at its points of fastening to the frame will it be in direct contact therewith. At the point 11, in Figure 1, where the bar 18 passes outwardly beyond the lateral limit of the chair frame m, it is bent upwardly to 'a substantially vertical position, as at 19, and so extends to the point 2, at which it is flexible and capable of being bent outwardly or laterally from the vertical to the same degree as is the inward bend of the lower portion of the tray supporting bar 16.

Above the point z, the bar 19 is also provided with rolled over side wings 20, which are of such size that they may be slidably yet firmly embraced by the side wings 17 of the bar 16.

In mounting the tray, the bar 18 is first secured to the under face of the frame m. The wings 17 of the bar 16 are then slid down, longitudinally, along the wings 20 of the bar 19, and the casing 10 is finally applied to the upper end of the bar 16. In order that the tray may be maintained in proper position adjacent to and flanking the arm of the chair, it is necessary that means be employed for holding the overlapping portions of the bars 16 and 19 in determined position of longitudinal relation. And, in order that the tray may be adapted to use with chairs wherein the arm heights differ, it is necessary that the means for establishing this longitudinal relationship be made adjustable. This may be effected in many ways. The manner herein illustrated and which utilizes noadditional parts yet has been found to be highly eifective consists in providing the web of one of the bars (in this instance, the bar 19) with a series of centrally positioned apertures 21 and in providing the web of the other bar (in this instance, the bar 16) with one or more pressed up tits or projections 22 adapted to enter and be engaged by any of the apertures 21. When so engaged, the bars will be firmly held against casual longitudinal movement in respect to one another. The spring of the bars, however, is such that, when sufficient force is exerted, the bars may be pulled outwardly or pushed inwardly, longitudinally, in respect to one another, thereby increasing or decreasing their combined length with resultant adjustment of vertical and lateral positioning of the ash tray to accord with the chair arm height and width.

In Figure 6, there is illustrated a modified type of tray support wherein the overlapping bars are materially shorter than in the previously described instance. This form of support is especially applicable for mounting upon the under face of the seat 11 of a wooden chair B.

It will, thus, be seen that there has been provided an ash tray and support for use in connection with any type of chair whatsoever, wherein the desired features are all present and the recited objects have all been attained.

It is, of course, obvious that many changes and alterations may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departure from the principles of this invention. Such modifications, while neither illustrated nor described herein, are contemplated as forming part of this invention, and are to be so understood, insofar as they fall within the scope of the following claim.

What I claim is:

As an article of manufacture for the attachment and adjustable support of an ash tray to a chair, consisting of a fiat metallic angular supporting member so constructed and arranged to permit one of its free ends to be secured to the underface of a seat portion of a chair and its other free end flexible and laterally adjustable and extending upwardly and outwardly and provided with integral inwardly curved side wings, an ash receiving receptacle, a carrying member for said receptacle having a downwardly and inwardly extending free end provided with integral inwardly curved side wings, the wings of one of said members encircling and having frictional contact with the wings of the other member, and means comprising cooperating projections and apertures on said upwardly and downwardly extending ends for securing said free ends in adjustable overlapping relation.

MAURICE J. ELIAS. 

